The Great American Takeout: Calling all residents to place orders with local restaurants

Look no further than a host of Vicksburg restaurants that have quickly adapted to new restrictions amidst the COVID-19 situation. In a press conference Sunday, Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. announced restaurants and bars that serve food would be closed to dine-in service for the next 14 days in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.

A coalition of restaurants, including Chicken Salad Chick, Panera Bread, Noodles & Company, The Cheesecake Factory and more, has deemed Tuesday the #GreatAmericanTakeout.

“America’s restaurants are in crisis,” the group said in a release about the initiative. “The coronavirus poses a significant threat to the future of an industry that employs more than 15 million Americans. That’s why a coalition of restaurants is asking industry peers, partners, publishers, influencers, and—most critically—guests, for help.

On [Tuesday], we’re asking everyone in America to show their support for the restaurant industry and incredible employees by joining #TheGreatAmericanTakeout and eating at least one delivery or pick-up meal.”

The initiative encourages residents to “hype” the event by sharing your participation in the event on social media and using the hashtag #TheGreatAmericanTakeout, “rally the troops” by encouraging others to do likewise, “eat” by ordering take out or delivery from your favorite local restaurant and to “repeat.”

“The Great American Takeout is only the beginning. Keep supporting our nation’s restaurants by ordering takeout or delivery as often as you can,” the release stated.

Some restaurants are expanding or differentiating offerings during this time.

Local restaurant Taco Casa is offering a “Stock Your Freezer Sale” which includes $1 bean burritos or $1.85 for combo burritos. There is a 10 burrito minimum on orders.

“We’re open to serve our community,” Taco Casa cashier and cook Tiffany Scallions said. “That way we can make sure people have food to eat. We give good customer service and are very sanitized. We are taking all the precautions we need to.”

Orders can be placed by calling Taco Casa at 601-638-2375 for the Highway 27 location or 601-638-4026 for the Pemberton location.

Cottonwood Public House has also updated offerings during this time. The restaurant is open seven-days-a-week from 4 to 9 p.m. and offers take out and delivery service for food and beer by calling (601) 501-7712 or online at www.toasttab.com/cottonwoodpublichouse.

“We just put out a fresh batch of our much-loved Death on Two Legs,” Key City Brewing Company brewer Zack Erikson said. “If we keep rolling and people keep buying beer, we’ll have some fun stuff in the tanks that will come out in the next couple of weeks. “Come support us. We want to keep people fed and happy during this crazy period. We are all in this together.”

Beer can be purchased in crowlers ranging from $9 to $17.

Erikson said Cottonwood staff had been sent home on paid leave and that management was manning the restaurant.

Walnut Hills owner Joyce Clingan, whose restaurant is closed on Tuesdays, echoed Erikson’s sentiments that getting through this time is a community effort.

“We are closed on Tuesdays, but I hope and pray that it is good for my competitors because we are all in this together,” she said.

Walnut Hills will continue to offer take-out and is working on specials to offer customers during this time.

Jay Parmegiani, owner of 10 South, has temporarily closed the restaurant, but patrons still have an opportunity to support the business tomorrow through gift card purchases at 10southrooftop.com.

“I am still trying to work through the process and the numbers of whether it is best to just pause for a minute for us and our team or try to start a curbside service,” he said. “When we reopen, come out and see us.”

Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Laura Beth Strickland and Vicksburg Main Street Program Director Kim Hopkins encourages the community to participate.

“Supporting our local restaurants has never been so important,” Strickland said. “They are working hard to support their staff, continue to provide a service, and keep their doors open in the future. We hope the public will continue to order take out, purchase gift cards, and utilize new curbside services and delivery options. These businesses are the first to support our events, and it’s our turn to support them.”

“The Great American Take Out is a national campaign to help the restaurant industry that has been hit hard by the COVID-19,” Hopkins said. “It gives everyone in our community a chance to come together on one day to support all of the restaurants that they love during this critical time. We have 14 restaurants downtown but two have decided to close their doors during the COVID-19. The other restaurants are doing curbside, pickup and some are offering delivery service. Please support all of the restaurants in Vicksburg. They all need your help.”

A list of restaurants offering new services and increasing cleaning protocol during their response to COVID- 19 are below: